"God, I hope so."Ruel turned away and moved heavily across the room. "I've got to get backto him. I don't want him to wake up and find no one there."
She watched him go back intothe bedroom, tears stinging her eyes. In the past weeks, as they had labored tosave Ian, she had learned Ruel was much more than the sensual mandarin she hadfeared. He was also a man who experienced pain and discouragement and couldshow gentleness as well as strength. She wanted to go after him, comfort him,try to ease the pain she sensed.
"Jane."
She turned to see Patrickstanding in the doorway, his face flushed, his manner awkward. "I heard atthe club Ian is doing better. I came by to see if there is anything youneed."
She shook her head.
"Food? Medicine? We stillhave a little money left in the cash fund, don't we?"
"Ruel's seeing toeverything."
"Oh." He still stoodthere, turning the brim of his hat in his big hands. "Well, if there'sanything... Let me know... "
"There's nothing you cando." She paused and then burst out, "Ian may never walk again."
"No," he whispered,stricken.
She nodded jerkily. "It'snot fair. You don't know him. He's such a gentle man, such a good man—"Her voice broke.
Patrick was suddenly acrossthe room, gathering her in his arms. "It's all right." His handcupped her head, smoothing her hair. "Don't cry, Jane."
It wasn't all right. Shewasn't sure anything would be all right again, but Patrick's arms were strong,loving. How many times had she yearned for Patrick to hold her in affectionlike this?
"That's my girl," hesaid soothingly. "That's my Jane."
She gave a tremulous sigh andpushed him away. "I'm sorry. I know this kind of thing makes you feelawkward."
"No, I'm the one who issorry. I've been a terrible fool." Patrick smiled with an effort."But you've forgiven me, haven't you?"
"It's not my place toforgive—" She broke off and said wearily, "I don't know if I canforgive you or not."
"We've been together toolong to harbor bad feelings." He paused and then said in a rush, "Idon't like to bring you more bad news, but I'm afraid you're going to have toleave the bungalow by the end of the month. The maharajah has rescinded thelease."
She shook her head. "Wecan't leave here until Ian is well enough to be moved."
"The maharajah wants usout of Kasanpore, Jane."
"I don't care what hewants," she said fiercely. "I'll not leave while Ruel and Ian needme. If you want to help, find a way to persuade the maharajah to let usstay."
"I'll do my best."Patrick's smile was strained. "Maybe if I go through Colonel Pickering andask him to intercede…he seems to havea liking for Ian MacClaren."
"Do whatever you have todo."
He nodded, still hesitating."I've been thinking about what we're going to do after we leave here,Jane. Perhaps we should go back to America and start again. It's a long way andmaybe no one will hear about—"
"Not now. I don't want tothink of anything but Ian right now."
He nodded. "I understand.But you'll see, it may take a while, but everything will be the same asbefore."
She looked at him indisbelief. "You're wrong."
"Why do you saythat?" Anxiety flickered over his face. "You won't leave me? I needyou, Jane. We need each other. We're family."
It was the closest he had evercome to saying the words she so desperately wanted to hear. Why did it have tocome now? She didn't answer him directly. "You'd better go back to theclub and talk to Colonel Pickering."
He opened his mouth to speakand then turned away. "If there's anything else I can do, let me know,darlin'." He hesitated and then reluctantly turned back again to face her."There's something else you should know. The maharajah asked ColonelPickering to have one of his engineers conduct an investigation of the trainwreck."
